TODAY IS…

the day to adopt the attitude of Christ.

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”  Philippians 2:5 NLT

Speaking at his inauguration, John F. Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

In speaking these famous words, President Kennedy was trying to instill in people an attitude of service. He wanted people to give of themselves to collectively make their country better rather than sit and wait for someone to do it for them.

For a member of any community, an attitude of service is a good attitude to have and for us as members of Christ’s community, it is the only one to have.

Jesus came to lead the sinners of the world to salvation, and to those who followed Him He repeatedly demonstrated that the way to lead others is with an attitude of service.

“…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28 NASB).

The Apostle Paul learned this lesson well and repeated it in his teachings to others.

“…have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” (Philippians 2:5-7 NIV).

Service to others often requires sacrifice to ourselves.

In a selfish world where the voice of “me” speaks louder than the voice of “all”, it is sometimes difficult to develop and maintain an attitude of service. We must endeavor to keep the very nature of Jesus in our minds at all times: He came into being, He lived and He died – all in service to others.

Speaking to the crowds and His disciples, Jesus said, “The greatest among you must be a servant.” (Matthew 23:11 NLT).

He lived as He spoke, and He was the greatest servant of all time. The attitude of service possessed by Jesus Christ is an attitude every Christian should strive to adopt today, and every day.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson